Armed cops to travel on Tube trains in wake of North Greenwich ‘bomb plot’

Firearms officers will use the Tube to travel between jobs

by emma lake

26th October 2016, 11:36 am

Updated: 26th October 2016, 11:30 pm

ARMED police will be visible on the London Underground after a bomb scare at North Greenwich station caused panic last week, a senior officer has revealed.

Firearms officers will use the Tube to travel between jobs in a counter terrorism move cops hope will reassure the public.

SWNS:South West News Service

Armed police will use the Tube to travel around the capital in a bid to reassure the public

North Greenwich station was cordoned off after a suspicious package was found on a Tube

While British Transport Police (BTP) chiefs have stopped short of full patrols on the Tube network, the move could see armed officers as well as dog units use the underground on a daily basis.

British Transport Police's deputy chief constable Adrian Hanstock told the Evening Standard: “They will stand out and people will see them. We hope they will provide a reassurance that they are there and they are able to respond whatever the threat may be.”

But, a spokesman for Mayor of London Sadiq Khan told the Standard: “No decision has been taken on this proposal. It will be discussed between the Mayor, BTP and TfL over the coming weeks‎.”

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Mr Hanstock acknowledged the sight of armed officers could increase fears of a terrorist attack.

He said: "It is a risk we are prepared to take. We understand that people don’t want to be confronted with the reality of the threat that the UK faces but it is clear and obvious that we have this severe threat level from terrorism.

“Whether that is targeted, deliberate and calculated or whether it is unsophisticated, we have seen both, the reality of that risk is there.

“Hopefully people will be reassured that we have got the measures in place to counter that threat and we can also be unpredictable.”

PA:Press Association

Police arrested a 19-year-old man in relation to the incident

BTP chiefs will hold talks with City Hall and Transport for London before the change is made.

Armed officers temporarily patrolled the Tube in the aftermath of the 7/7 attacks and are routinely seen at major mainline stations such as Waterloo.